Letter: Change 'it's free' system

Between Social Security, Medicare and Medicare (D), we have an unfunded liability of $123 trillion. This is on top of our $17 trillion national debt.

If we would confiscate all assets, from Bill Gates billions to the pennies in the cups of street people, it comes to only $94 trillion. This is the ultimate definition of a broken system.

Yet through Obamacare we are going to expand Medicaid by trillions of dollars so millions have access to free medical care. The poor already have access to free medical care through emergency rooms. This misuse of the emergency room is a huge reason behind our rising health care costs. They could go to clinics located throughout the city but elect the emergency room instead. Why? "It's free."

Expanding Medicaid will add trillions to our national debt but will not change the attitude of the poor who will still use the emergency room. Why? "It's free."

The average family on government assistance receives $82,000 per year. That is an increase of $19,000 in one year. There will never be enough money to pay for this broken "it's free" system.

Before expanding Medicaid, we need to change the welfare model from "hand out" to "hand up."

Al Ostendorf

Cheviot

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Letter: Change 'it's free' system

Between Social Security, Medicare and Medicare (D), we have an unfunded liability of $123 trillion. This is on top of our $17 trillion national debt.